Donald J. Pershing

Donald J. Pershing, 95, of Frankfort, passed away on August 11, 2024, at Wesley Manor Retirement Community. He was born March 23, 1929, in Washington, Indiana to John Carl and Mabel H. (Morris) Pershing. He graduated from Washington High School in 1947 and then from Purdue University with a BS in Agriculture in 1951. He served in the United States Army from August 1951 to May 1953 and was in active combat during the Korean War. He married Joyce McPike in 1953, and she preceded him in death in 2001. Don completed his Master’s Degree in 1954 and taught Vocational Agriculture for five years. He then worked as an Extension Educator with Cooperative Extension Service through Purdue University for 35 years and served as a Farm Management Specialist for the last 14 years of his career. 

Don received the Sagamore of the Wabash award at retirement in 1994, which is the highest honor the Governor of Indiana bestows. He lived to see many changes in agriculture beginning by helping on the family farm with horse drawn implements to later witnessing multiple row combines and many other modern farming equipment. He likes to tell that he was the last of his family to learn how to harness a work horse.

Don was a member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church and participated in many local and world mission work teams. He was also a member of Gideon’s International for over 50 years. In retirement he assisted with tax preparation for low income and the elderly taxpayers through AARP. He worked with Habitat for Humanity in many counties and helped form the Habitat Chapter in Warren and Benton Counties. In 2004, he was awarded the Volunteer of the Year from Lafayette Area 4.

Don is survived by his sons, Mark of Moline, IL and Dale (Cathy) of Indianapolis; daughter, Carol (Tom) Taylor of Indianapolis; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. In 2001, he married Eleanor (Porter) Dehn Howell and gained four more stepsons, Dan (Jennifer) Dehn of Frankfort, Steve (Emily) Dehn of Portland, OR, Kevin Howell of Peru and Todd (Jeanette) Daniels-Howell of Indianapolis; eight more grandchildren; four more great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, June Harshberger, Helen Wiesler, Roscoe (Ann) Pershing, and Stephen (Carla) Pershing.

Along with his first wife, Don was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and three sisters.

Visitation will be held Friday, August 16, 2024, from 4pm to 7pm at Day & Genda Funeral Home in Frankfort and Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 10am until the time of the funeral service at 11am at Wesley Manor Amanda Reid Chapel. Pastors Deborah Musick-Klemme and Jake Fisher will officiate with burial following at Green Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Don’s memory to Wesley Manor Development Fund, St. Matthew United Methodist Church, or Gideon’s International. Messages of condolence may be left at www.dayandgenda.com.